Job Interview Tips

A job interview is your chance to meet your potential employer and demonstrate that you’re the best person for the job. The employer will evaluate your skills, experience, and personality to determine if they will meet the needs of the organization.

It’s natural to be nervous before a job interview, but with the proper preparation and practice, you can find ways to approach your interview with confidence and excitement. This page will walk you through the process of preparing for the job interview, what to do during the interview itself, and how to follow up afterwards. After reviewing this page and practicing on your own, we encourage you to set up a mock interview with the Berklee Career Center to gain real-time job interview experience.

Do your homework. Research the organization and interviewer(s) using their website and third-party sources. Finding out what is important to the organization will help you to align yourself with their goals and to speak in a way that aligns with their language; don’t be afraid to use industry lingo when appropriate (this requires research, however, to ensure that you fully understand it).

Ask a friend—or, better yet, a Career Center advisor—to interview you, and practice saying your responses to questions aloud. Stay calm and don’t be afraid to take some time to formulate your response if you need it (e.g., “That’s a good question. Let me think about that for a moment.”). View our list of typical interview questions, and practice responding to them.

Bring extra copies of your resumé and cover letter with you to the interview, as well as any work samples that might help illustrate a point that comes up in the conversation. However, do not feel that you must distribute these materials simply because you brought them. Have them on hand, and if you are asked or if it comes up naturally, you'll be ready. This will help demonstrate that you come prepared.

Do a mock interview at the Career Center. This will allow you to practice answering potential questions, and the Career Center advisor will be able to offer you feedback on strengths and areas for potential improvement.

Arrive early. Potential employers are only interested in employees who will be punctual.

Dress appropriately and professionally. Try to strike the right balance between “too casual” and “too formal,” erring on the side of formal.

Be friendly. Shake hands firmly, smile, and be enthusiastic with everyone you meet.

Be patient. You will likely be repeating information that you have already presented in your resumé and cover letter; the employer will want to hear you talk about those points and experiences in person. If you meet with multiple people at different times or are brought in for multiple interviews, you may repeat yourself many times. It’s important not to act as if the interviewer should already know this information. Approach each interview with patience, and speak as if you were stating this information for the first time.

Show, don’t tell. In other words, try to offer examples of how you have handled relevant situations through examples rather than simply by listing your abilities.

Use numbers when applicable. If you can quantify your past successes with measurable results, this will help demonstrate your level of responsibility and contribution in past work.

Sell your strengths. Don’t worry about bragging about yourself more than you normally would. In a job interview, this is expected. Use examples that align with job description requirements whenever possible, and try to put a positive spin on everything. View our list of typical interview questions, and look for opportunities to include highlights of your experience in your answers.

Market your “soft skills.” These may not be listed in the job description, but they include factors such as problem solving, teamwork, and adaptability.

Find the right conversational balance. You want to be concise in your responses but not so brief that the interviewer doesn’t get a good sense of who you are. Pay attention to the interviewer’s nonverbal cues to guide you as to when to elaborate and when to wrap it up.

Demonstrate your knowledge of the organization or employer in your responses. It’s important to let the interviewer see that you’ve done your homework.

Avoid interview blunders. These include excessive use of filler words like “um,” “like,” and “you know,” or negative statements about previous employers.

Match your personal values to the employer’s needs. If it's possible to do so, this will signal that you'll view the position as more than just a job.

When asked about your goals, be sure to include how the organization fits into that picture.

Engage in active listening. Remember that it’s not all about you. You also want to learn as much as you can about the organization and interviewer(s). This is a sign of respect that will signal that you are truly interested in working with the organization and interviewer(s).

Send a “thank you” message to the people who interviewed you, thanking them for their time and adding anything you may have wanted to say after the interview ended (keep it concise and positive). Reiterate why you’re excited about the opportunity and why you’re a good fit for the organization. For the hiring manager and key interviewers, take the time to send a handwritten note.

If the employer asked you to send them references, do so within 24 hours.

If you don’t hear back within a few weeks, follow up with a phone call. Remain positive and reiterate your interest and enthusiasm. Remember: you don’t know much of what is going on inside the organization, so don't assume that not hearing back sooner is a negative sign.

Make sure you’re in a quiet spot that's free from distractions or interruptions.

Make sure you have a reliable signal. A landline phone is likely to be better than a cell phone both in terms of signal strength and avoiding distracting incoming text messages or calls.

Consider dressing as if you were going to an in-person interview to mentally put yourself “in the zone.”

Speak extra clearly, deliberately, and enthusiastically. Since the interviewer won’t be receiving any visual cues, your voice will give them their first impression of you.

Navigate conversational rhythm thoughtfully. It may be more difficult to gauge this over the phone, so wait for the interviewer to finish a thought and pause before you speak. Likewise, plan to finish your thought and pause to indicate their turn to speak.

Keep your resumé and cover letter in front of you for reference.

Follow all of the tips for in-person interviews in the “At the Interview” section above.

If your interview will be conducted via an online service with video such as Skype or Google Hangouts, follow all of the tips for in-person interviews in the “At the Interview” section above.

Dress just as you would for an in-person interview.

Don’t forget that eye contact is still important, even if it is filtered through a computer video camera.

If you choose to have notes or documents open on your screen for reference, be sure that you’re not sharing your entire screen.

Avoid typing during the conversation unless it's necessary, and announce why you are typing before doing so. That way the interviewer won’t be distracted or confused—or wonder if you’re being disrespectful by writing to someone else during the interview.